Electric switch.



G. WRIGHT. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1905.

91 9 ,994, Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1'.

WI'TNESEIEE INVENTEIR X574 M GILBE T WRIGHT G. WRIGHT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION rum) AUG. 3, 1905.

4 sums-sum z.

Patented Apr. 27, 1909,

WiTNESSEE \NVENTEIR GiLaERT. WRiGHT m G. WRIGHT.

ELEGTRIG SWITCH.

APPLIOATIONIILBD we. a. 1905.

Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEBT 3.

Fi g l Hill- 7 .SDIII... I

I I I IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/ INVENTDR iLfiERT WRiGHT .WiTNE55E5 G. WRIGHT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION rum) AUG. 3, 190a.

Patented Apr.27,1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

INVENTEIR GILBERT WRIGHT W ATTY' GILBERT WRIGHT, OF

' switches and more UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 27,1909.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, GILBERT VVRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsfield, county of Berkshire, State of Massaful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to electric particularly to the operating mechanism thereof and it comprises a novel organization of parts together with certain novel features of construction which cooperate to render the proper operation ofthe switch more certain and thereby reduce the possibility of injury to apparatus to a mini-.

mum.

One of the features comprises a novel means for automatically indlcating the different positions of the switch. This indicator is so constructed that when the switch is once opened, the indicator must be moved to a definite osition before it is possible to again close t e switch. In a double throw switch towhic'h this feature is especially ap- .plicable, the indicator has a double throw movement which corresponds to the movement of the operating lever of the switch and when the indlcator is moved so as to permit the switch to be closed it indicates the direc tion of movement of the operating lever necessary to produce such closure. By this organization, before it is possible to close the switch, it is therefore necessary to take two steps, first, to move the indicator to the proper position and second to follow this by a similar movement of the switch operating lever. In this way' the opera'tor is provided with an eificientcheck on his action and the likelihood of error inthe manipulation of the switch 'is greatly reduced.

The invention comprises in additionto the above certain other features, which. are capable of a varied and diversified application.

The character and nature of the invention will be best understood u on reference to the following description ta en in connection with the accompanying drawings and the essentials of the lnvention will be specificallypointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a switch embodying the features of the invention,

parts being broken away and shown in sec-' tion on a plane indicated by the line 1-1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the operating mechanism corresponding to one view similar to Fig. 3 1

of the closed positions of the switch; Fig. 3 is a similar vlew of the lock-mechanism by which the switch is stopped and held in open position; Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a chusetts, have invented certain new and use- 1 of the switch lock-mechanism, shown in Fig. 3,

and the similar-lever lock-mechanism by which the operating lever is held in diflerent o erativepositions; Fig. 5 is a view similar to ig. 3 illustrating the operating lever lock-mechanism in non-engaging osition; Fig. 6 -is a lustrating the lock shown therein in lookin osition'; Fig. 7 ,is a side elevation of the switcli, parts being illustrated in section; and Fig. 8 is a plan of the same.

Throughout these views like characters refer to like; arts.

Referring in detail to these drawings, and, for the present more particularly to the operating mechanism, 10 designates the casing within which the greater ortion of said mechanism is "inclosed. T 's casing comprises a central cylindrical portion 11 and end portions 12 communicating therewith and within which ara located the electro-magnetic devices eln loyed to trip the switch. Within the endeads oi the central portion 11. is journaled the-shaft 12 which is actuated by theoperating lever 13 to throw, the switch into its different operative positions. The operatingl lever 13 com prises two members whic are rigidly connected at their inner ends to the ends of the shaft 12 and at their outer ends to the handle 14. An irregularly shaped member 15' located within the casing 11 is also rigidly secured to the shaft 12*. By reason of'this construction all movements of the operating lever 13 are communicated to the member 15, the two moving as a unlt. For the purpose of communicating the movement of the parts 13 and '15 to the switch contacts, the shaft 12 -is rovided with a member 16 which is rotatab y mounted on it and constructed and arranged so as to be latched/or otherwise clutched to it. The member :16 comprises two identical plates held apart -by suitable spacing blocks 17 and connected at the point 18 with the contact actuating bar 19. As shown in Fig. 2 the point 18 is some distance from the shaft 12 so that, as the latter is rotated, the member 16 when clutched toit-acts as a crank to give the actuating bar 19 a reciprocatory movement. To another projecting portion of the member 16 is connected one end of the coiled tension spring 20 which, as best shown in Fi 7, extends through a suitable opening in the supporting panel 21 and has its opposite end secured to some suitable fixed point, such as a hook 21 mounted on a bracket 21 which is carried by the casing. This spring gives a bias to the switch tending to maintain it in open position.

From the description thus far it will be seen that the member 16 and the movable switch element move as a unit freely with reference to the shaft 12 and tend to occupy a definite position in response to the ull of the spring 20. On the other han the o crating lever 13 and the member 15 are movable together, independently of the switch parts, to any desired position.

For the purpose of transmitting the motion of the latter to the former, latching mechanism is employed. For this purpose one of the projecting ortions of the member 16 is provided wit a projecting pin 22 which is adapted to cooperate with latches 23 24, pivoted at the po1nts.23 24 to the member 15. a

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, the latches concentric slot-like space between them and the. shaft. This space constitutes arunway for 9. P111 30, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,

' which'is secured to the lower end of the tripping lever 31, which is fixed at its upper on to an intermediate oint in the horizontal shaft 32 journaled within hearings in the end walls of the central portion 11 of the casing 10 and terminates at its ends in rotransmitting connection between the operat-j ing lever13 and the contact actuating link 19.

I 2 shows the operating parts in osi tlons corresponding to one of the close positions of the switch while Fig 7 illustrates the same in positions corresponding to the other closejd osition of the switch. With the parts t e latter position, the trip 'ing lever 31 is in {position to engage the late 23 Instead of the latch 24; but in each case the proper latch will be tripped to free the mem ber 16, which is connected with the switch" contacts, from the operating lever 13, so as to allow the switch to fly to the open position under the tension of the spring 20.

One of the essential features of the invention consists in the novel means for locking the o crating lever in what I may termits close ositions, that is, in its positions corres on ing to the closed positions of the switch, and in the means for locking the member 16 in the position corresponding to the open position of the switch. For this.

which cooperate with pins 41 carried at the outer ends of arms on the member 15 which, it will be remembered, moves as a unit with the operating lever 13. A coiled tension spring 42 connects projecting portions on the plates 35 and 36 and tends to rock them,

about their pivots 37 and 38 intothe path of movement of the pins 41. This movement is controlled-by the manually operated'con- -trol. and indicating lever 43 ivoted at, 44 to the casing 10and provide at-45 with a bearing pin which engages cam faces 46 and.

47 upon the latching plates 35 and 36 respectively. These faces are so shaped'that when the lever 43 is in the position illustrated in Fig. .5, that is, in its mid position, the plates 35 and 36 are thrown out of engaging position, but if the lever 43 is thrown downward, the upper plate is allowed to move under the action of its spring into engaging position, while, on the other hand, if the ever 43 is thrown, upward, the lower late 36 moves into engaging position. rom this it will be seen then that so far as this latching mechanism is concerned, the-operating lever might be moved at will throughout its entire range of movement as long as the lever 43 occu ies its mid position; but in order that said ever maybe locked in its closed position, it is necessary to throw the control lever 43 in the direction in which it -1s desired to throw the operating lever.

Thus the lever 43 seriv'es as an indicator of the direction in which the' operating lever-z end of t e casing 10'. -These plates are pro-" vided with shoulders 52 and 53 whichv co- 16 will be in the operate with thepin 54 on the member 16 in the operation of the mechanism. A coiled tension' 'spring 55 connects outwardly extending arms upon the plates 48 and 49 and exerts apull normally tending to force the plates into latching position. The plates 48 and; 49 are plates 'an 36 so as to provide cam faces the control lever 43-co6perates in the same manner as it cooperates with the cam faces 46 and 47 on the plates 35 and 36 of the other 1 locking mechanism. And similarly, as in the other case, when the lever 43 is thrown downward, as in Fig. 3, the plate 48 is moved to engaging osition, while when. it is thrown upward t e plate 49 is moved to engaging position. ,Each of the plates 48 and 49 is provided with a slot, at its point of engagement with its pivot pin, which extends in the.

direction of movement of the outer end of the member 16, thatis, in a direction substantially concentric with the shaft 12. The purpose of this will be understood ifit be assumed thatthe. operatin mechanism is in the position illustrated in ig. 2 and the same be tripped so as to free the contact actuating member 16 from the member 15.

In the position of the operating mechanism illustrated in. Fig. 2, the lock. for the member position-shown in Fig. 3.

With the parts so disposed, as soon as the latch 24 is tripped, the member 16 will fly vsired to close the switch aroundunder the ull of its spring 20 and the pin 54 thereon wi 1 be driven with considerable force against the shoulder 52 on the plate 48. This will be sufficient to move the plate 48 upward. The effect of this movement, duet'o the arrangement of the cam faces 56 and 57, is such as to cause the con trolling lever 43- to rotate aboutits pivot 44 into the positionillustrated in Fig. 6. As soon as this takes" place, the plate 49 is free to move to its outward or engaging position and in doing so the shoulder 53- passe s on the opposite side 'of the pin 54 thus securely locking the member 16 and the switch in" open position. Thus when the switch has been automatically tripped the pin 54 will beJocked by the plates 48 and 49, as illustrated'in F ig. 6, and the. operating lever will occupy either the ositions shown, in'Fig. 2 or that shown in ig. 7 If, then, it is deit is necessary to throw the lever 43 into its upper or lower position according to the positlon into which it is desired to throw the switch. For ex-' ample, if it is desiredto throw the switch into the position illustrated in Fig. 7 thelever 43 will be thrown upward and this movement will be followed by a corresponding movement of the operating lever 13 after thesame has been moved to its mid position for the purpose'of latching the members 15 and 16. In the movement of the operating lever from dpunched out similarly to the' 5 and 16 in the following manner. The outer end'of the latch 24 will be engaged by the pin 22 on the member 16 and forced inward thereby against the pull of the spring 29. When the pin 22 comes up against. the latch 23, the latch 24 will spring back into place thus completing the clutching operation. W hen this is accomplished the switch may he tliIOfi'Il to the desired. position by the further movement of the operating lever.'

Obviously, the actuation of the trip )ing bar 31 by which the movable element 0 the switch is unlatched from the operating lever may be accomplished in any desired manner. In the present instance this function isvperformed by either one or both of the two solenoid magnets contained within the portions 12 of the inclosing casing 10. These magnets are identical in construction so thatit will be suflicient for the present purpose to describe one of them in detail.

Referring to Fig. 1, 59 designates the Windportion of said casing. A calibrating tube 62 extends through the center of the spoolZ and contains a fixed core 63 and a movable core 64. .Themovable core normally rests at the lower end of the tube against an adjustable stop 65 and is adapted to be drawn upward by the magnetic pull of the winding 59 into engagement with the-fixed core 63. Near the end of this movement the core 64 engages the lower end of a pin 66 which extends down through and slightly beyond core 63, the downward movement of the pin 66 being limited by a shoulder 67 thereon. The u per end of the pin 66 engages the outer end of one of the arms 33 or 34 on the shaft 32. The length of the pin 66 is such that when it is driven upward by a blow from the movable core64, it rocks the arm 34 and thereby through the agency of the trip'arm 31 unlat'ches the members 15 and 16. The position of thesto 65 may be varied at will by means of the clamping plate 68 and the screw 69. The screw passes through the plate 68 and. into threaded engagement with the block '65 and may be turned up to clamp the adjacent walls of the tube between the plate and the stop and thereby hold the stop in late. The longitudinal slot in the cali rating tube permits the assage of the screw 69, and the lower end 0 the tube is turned over slightly, as at 7,1, to keep the stop 65 from falling out of the tube when the screw 69 is loosened. The bore of the calibrating tube 62 is slightly enlarged at its upperend so as to provide a shoulder against which the lower end of the fixed core 63 may abut and the upper end of the bore is threaded for the be induced otherwise by the current in said winding 59.

For the purpose of completing the illustratiqn and more fully disclosing the character of my invention I have shown the operating mechanism above described in connection with a switch of the type disclosed in Patent No. 761,745, granted to me June 7,

1904. It is, of course, to be understood that my switch operating mechanism is ca able of use with other types of switches an that the present switch is merely illustrative,

being selected largely on account of its simplicity. In Figs. 7 and 8 in which said switch is illustrated, 21 designates the anel or other support upon which the switc and its operatm mechanism are mounted. Briefly described, the switch comprises a frame 73' which is secured to the rear of the support 21 in any suitable manner as by screws and nuts 74 and from which fixed contacts 75'depend. These contacts cooperate with a reciprocating bridging contact 76 which is hung from a reciprocating rod 7 7 suitably. guided within the upper portion of the frame 73 .and' operatively connected at g the point 78 to the actuating rod 19 of the o crating mechanism. The under side of t e frame 73 is provided with an oil can 79 whichsurrounds the fixed and movable contacts and is adapted to contain a bath ofoil .for stopping and locking the swltch 1n its of sufficient depth to submer e said contacts.

This oilcan is held in place; y any suitablemeans as the hooks 80 and cooperating stirru s 81 rovided'with the thumb nuts 82.

he ed contacts 75 take the form of bolts having rounded heads with their shanksfextending up throu h insulators 83 carried by the frame 73. T e upper-ends of the shanks .are electrically connected to suitable circuit leads 84 and the point of insulating ca block 86 is secured by a bolt 89 to t connection is inclosed within the protective 85. .The.movable bridging contact 76 o the switch extends laterally from a sup orting insulating. block 86 and connected t ereto by bolts 87. .The outer ends of the bridging contact 76 are provided with contactingplates 88 of the same structure .as the round contacting heads of the fixed contacts 75. The center supporting e reciprocating rod 7 7 and the rigidity of the connection is maintained by a suitable s acer 90.

For thepurpose of assembling t e parts afts12 and 32 in the switch Z I K When the I former is operating mechanism, a s ecial construction has been employed, whic will now be de- .and a square shoulder at 90 against which the member 15 may abut. The latter mem her is provided with an opening of substantially the same shape as the section of the reduced portion of the shaft and is slipped over the same until it is brou ht up against the shoulder on the shaft. i tubular ring 91 is then slipped over the reduced portion of the shaft and ressed home against the o posite face of t e member 15 by means of a washer 92 and a stud bolt 93 screwed into the end of this reduced portion of the shaft. In this way the member 15 is held against rotation and also against lateral displacement upon the shaft. The same means also rigidly connects the side members of the operating lever 13 to the shaft 12*.

Obviously, certain alterations and modifications' may be made in the matter herein disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the specific matter presented, but aim to cover by the terms of the a pended claims all such alterations and mod' cations.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,- 1. An electric switch comprising means for stopping the switch in its open position, and an indicator mechanically actuated by said means to show the changed position of the switch.

2. An electric switch comprising means open position, and an indicator actuated by said means to show the changed position of the switch. 3. A double throw electric switch comprising means for locking the sw tch in open position,- and means for freeing the swltch or movement to one closed position only.

4. A double throw electric switch comprising an operating lever, means for locking .the switch mopen position, and means for posltion, and means for freeing the switch g ating lever, means for opening the switch prising an operating lever, means for opening 1 ing the switch independently of said lever,

for movement to one of its closed positions only and for indicating the direction of movement of the operating lever necessary to accomplish such closure.

7. A double throw electric switch comprising an operating lever, means for locking the switch in its open position, and a double throw indicating device actuated by said locking means to indicate the open position of the switch and manually movable to its other positions to free the switch for closure in the corresponding direction.

8. A double throw electric switch comprising a retaining latch for each closed position of the switch, and means common to said latches for moving them into and out of engaging position.

9. An' electric switch comprising an operindepndently of said lever, latching means for holding the lever in its closed position, and means operated by the opening of the switch to release said lever and lock the switch in its open position.

10. A double throw electric switch comthe switch independently of said lever, latching means for holding the lever in its closed positions, and means operated by the opening of the switch to release said lever.

11. A double throw electric switch comprising an operating lever, means for openlatching means for holding the lever in its qlosed positions, and means operated by the opening of the switch to release said lever and lock the switch in its open position.

12. An electric switch comprising an operating lever, means for opening the switch independently of said lever, latching means for holding the lever in its closed position, and means operated by the opening of the switch to release said lever and lock the switch in its open position and to indicate the position of the switch.

13. A double throw electric switch comprising an operating lever, means for openi ing the switch independently of the lever, latching means for iolding the lever in its closed positions, and means-operated by the opening of the switch to release said lever and to indicate the position of the switch.

14. A double throw electric switch comprising an operating lever, means for opening the switch independently of the lever, latching means for olding the lever in its closed positions, and means operated by the said switch with one latching means for controlling the action of the other, and an indicator cooperating with said latching means to indicate the position of the switch.

17. An electric switch comprising a plurality of latching means for holding the switch in its different operative positions and means common to said latching means for controlling their action. I

- 18. An electric switch comprising an operating lever, an indicating evice having positions corresponding to the open and closed positions of the switch, and means whereby the movement of said lever to close the switch can be accomplished only after the indicating device has been moved to the corresponding position,

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of August, 1905.

GILBERT WRIGHT.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK MURRAY PLATT, FORBES THOMPSON CULLENs. 

